Principal Design Engineer

Delve Search - Global Search Consultants; Leicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Delve Search - Global Search Consultants seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join its advanced R&D team. You will work on ultra-precision electro‑mechanical systems and drive ideas from blank sheet to working prototypes, without people management duties.

As a key technical mind, you will shape next‑gen products, collaborating with electronics, software and systems engineers, and use analysis, simulation and experimentation to validate concepts throughout development.

Qualifications

• Degree or Master's qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related discipline.
• Significant experience operating at Senior or Principal Engineer level.
• Track record of turning complex technical concepts into real-world products.
• Passion for engineering and solving difficult technical challenges.

Responsibilities

• Develop highly complex mechanical concepts and architectures.
• Solve precision and performance–critical engineering problems.
• Take ownership of designs from idea to production.
• Use analysis, simulation and experimentation to validate solutions.
• Collaborate with electronics, software and systems engineers on integrated products.
• Influence technical direction and engineering standards.
• Contribute expertise during design reviews and technical discussions.
• Share knowledge with colleagues with no formal management responsibilities.

Skills

Precision engineering

High-performance mechanical systems

Motion systems

FEA analysis

MATLAB

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical Engineering or Physics

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

CATIA

MATLAB

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer – Concept Innovation & Advanced R&D

• Some engineers enjoy managing people.
• Others enjoy solving problems that have never been solved before.

This opportunity is for the second type.

We are working with a highly advanced engineering and technology business that develops ultra-precision equipment used in demanding technical applications around the world. Their products push the boundaries of mechanical performance, accuracy and reliability.

They are looking for an exceptional mechanical engineer whose passion lies in creating, innovating and solving complex technical challenges.

This is not a people management role.

It is a role for someone who wants to spend their time thinking deeply about engineering problems, developing elegant solutions and taking ideas from a blank sheet of paper through to a working product.

The Role

You will become one of the key technical minds within a multidisciplinary R&D team, helping to shape the next generation of sophisticated electro-mechanical systems.

You will have the freedom to challenge assumptions, explore new concepts and drive technical innovation throughout the entire product development cycle.

Expect to work on projects where the answers are not already known.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing original concepts for highly complex mechanical systems.
• Solving difficult engineering problems where precision and performance are critical.
• Taking ownership of designs from initial idea through to production.
• Using analysis, simulation and experimentation to validate solutions.
• Working alongside electronics, software and systems engineers to develop integrated products.
• Influencing technical direction and engineering standards.
• Contributing your expertise during design reviews and technical discussions.
• Sharing knowledge with colleagues without the expectation of formal line management responsibilities.

We're Looking For Someone Who...

• Loves engineering for the sake of engineering.
• Enjoys understanding how things work at a fundamental level.
• Naturally questions accepted solutions and looks for better ones.
• Thrives on technically difficult challenges.
• Is motivated more by solving problems than by managing teams.
• Wants to build products rather than spend their time in meetings.

Technical Experience

You'll probably have experience in a number of these areas:

• Precision engineering or high-performance mechanical systems.
• Motion systems, drives or precision mechanisms.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) including structural, stiffness or vibration analysis.
• Advanced CAD packages such as SolidWorks, NX, Creo or CATIA.
• Materials selection and manufacturing processes.
• Engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB or similar.

Your Background

• Degree or Master's qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related discipline.
• Significant experience operating at Senior or Principal Engineer level.
• A track record of turning complex technical concepts into real-world products.

Why This Opportunity?

• Complex, technically challenging projects.
• Long-term product innovation rather than short-term firefighting.
• Freedom to influence technical direction.
• A culture that values expertise and creativity.
• The chance to work alongside other highly capable engineers who enjoy solving difficult problems.

If you're the type of engineer who would rather spend an afternoon solving a problem everyone else has given up on than sitting in a management meeting, we'd like to speak with you.